Acute retinal necrosis.

Three cases of acute retinal necrosis are presented. Acute retinal necrosis is an unusual syndrome which is the result of severe contusion to the globe. It is characterized by large irregular retinal holes with pieces of necrotic retina in the adjacent vitreous, retinal edema and hemorrhage surrounding the holes, underlying choroidal disruption, and vitreous hemorrhage. The incidence of acute retinal necrosis is difficult to determine but it does not appear to be common entity. Although acute retinal necrosis may be associated with a retinal detachment, other retinal breaks are usually responsible for the detachment. The necrosis results from the direct force of the injury striking the globe although a contrecoup mechanism may explain cases of nasal necrosis. Treatment is necessary for associated retinal detachments and acute lesions but may not be necessary if adequate fibrosis is present when the lesion is first seen.